Graduate Shows 2025

<p dir="ltr">Each year, as part of our Graduate Shows, the university recognises the outstanding achievements of our students. During our season of events for Graduate Shows, we’ll be presenting the following awards to our Pre-Degree, Undergraduate and Postgraduate students:</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Board of Governors Awards</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Board of Governors Awards highlight and celebrate the outstanding achievement of students who have overcome obstacles to educational achievement, raised the profile of the university, and demonstrated a significant contribution to university life. This award is given to one Pre-Degree, one Undergraduate and one Postgraduate student.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Vice-Chancellor's Commendation Awards</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Vice-Chancellor's Commendation Awards recognise outstanding creative and academic achievement, alongside a sustained contribution to the university community, where the student has produced high-quality work, made significant progress, and made a positive contribution to the programme through excellent studentship. This award is given to one Pre-Degree, one Undergraduate and one Postgraduate student</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Pro Vice-Chancellor's Award for Artistic Research</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Pro Vice-Chancellor’s Award is for an exemplary research project at undergraduate level, presented through the Research Poster in Unit 601 and an exemplary research project at postgraduate level presented at the final module assessment. The award will be for student research that is innovative, well-structured, communicates to a wide audience and considers its impact with relevant stakeholders. This is awarded to one Undergraduate and one Postgraduate student.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>The Dean’s Award</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Dean’s Award recognises the achievement of an outstanding exhibition of creative work, judged on the quality of work and the overall exhibition design demonstrated by students graduating on their course. This award is given to the whole graduating class from one undergraduate degree, and to one postgraduate student based on their MA exhibition.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Graduate Employability Award </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Graduate Employability Award recognises a graduating Level 6 (undergraduate) student who has demonstrated sustained engagement with their personal and professional development throughout their studies, building outstanding transferrable and employability skills. The award is nominated by undergraduate course leaders.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Award</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Award recognises a graduating Level 6 (undergraduate) student, who in addition to demonstrating sustained engagement with their creative practice, is already operating in a professional capacity, for example; working as a freelancer, selling their work or having work published or exhibited. This award seeks to provide a valuable helping hand to an aspiring creative entrepreneur, and the winner will be provided with a series of one-one-mentoring sessions with business consultants Micronomy. The winning student will also be invited to join <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/alumni/workroom-grow">Workroom Grow</a>, our creative business incubation programme, supporting graduates to develop the next generation of creative business start-ups. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Field System Four Quarters Award</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://fieldsystem.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Field System</a> is a shop, gallery, and print workshop located in Ashburton, Devon, offering folk-inspired art and objects. The winner of the Field System Four Quarters Award will receive a two week show in Summer 2026, a year after graduation, in order for them to consolidate and/or develop their practice. They will additionally receive year long support and advice from both Field System and Arts University Plymouth stakeholders to realise and install their show. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Velarde Gallery</strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.velarde.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Velarde Gallery</a>, a contemporary art gallery in Kingsbridge, will commission a graduating student from either BA (Hons) Craft &amp; Material Practices, BA (Hons) Painting, Drawing &amp; Printmaking or BA (Hons) Fine Art to produce a body of work for a collective exhibition at Velarde Gallery in October/November. The winning student will be supported, mentored and represented by the gallery, with the opportunity to sell their work.<br /></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>All awards are decided upon by the awarding body or course leader, students do not need to enter the awards. Students will be notified if they have been selected as a nominee or winner. </strong><br /></p>